A devastating fire has ripped through Ayrshire's Dark Sky Observatory in the early hours of this morning.
Detectives are now appealing for information following the blaze at the popular tourist attraction in Dalmellington, which is being treated as suspicious.
Emergency services were scrambled to the scene shortly before 1am with four fire crews in attendance.
They found the building ablaze and extensively damaged.
A joint investigation between police and fire chiefs is now underway to establish the exact cause of the fire.
They say the circumstances are being treated as suspicious at this time.
Detective Constable Steven Grey from Kilmarnock CID said: “The observatory is run by a charity organisation and the financial impact and damage caused is extremely significant.
“It is vital we establish the full circumstances surrounding what happened and I am appealing to anyone with information to come forward.
“The observatory is in a remote location and I would like to speak to anyone who may have been in the area on Tuesday night, into Wednesday morning.
"I would also urge any motorists with dash-cams who were travelling through at the time to please check their footage in case they have captured anything which could be of relevance.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland through 101, quoting incident number 0293 of Wednesday, 23 June. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 00.46am to reports of a fire in the open affecting a wooden structure near Craigengillan Estate, Dalmellington.
“Operations Control mobilised four appliances to the scene, where crews remain.
“There are no reported casualties.”
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